I'm going to Cuba on 19th Dec (virgin airways flight to Havana leaving gatwick at 11.30am?) with exodus, however I'm on the cycling Cuba holiday. I'm also a solo traveller. I'll be looking out for other fellow exodus travellers at the airport and on the flight so maybe see you both there? Our hotel on the first night is Hotel Occidental Mirrimar -will you be staying there as well by any chance?

I'm flying on the same flight. We will be given seats in the same area on the plane. Our hotel on the first night is Hotel Occidental Mirimar too. On my first trip with Exodus to China in September (this year), other travellers on different/shorter tours were at the same hotel for the first 3-4 days too (some arrived on the same day, some were on the same flight as me) and during the first few days my group bumped into them sometimes during the excursions/sight-visits, were on the same overnight trains, etc. So, the format might be similar.

Don’t worry about being solo traveller. I was a bit apprehensive before going on the China trip. On that tour there were 4 female solo travellers (including me), 2 male solo travellers (and there were 4 couples), we had a lovely tour leader. We got on well, had lots of laughs, and we’re still keeping in touch but I realise each tour will be different. Apparently there are more women than men on this Cuba-La Isla Grande trip but it will be fine.

The suggestion that was given for China was to go with an open-mind and I’ll do the same for Cuba tour.

Hey thanks for getting back to me amd for your advice. Good to know that your trip to China as a solo traveller was enjoyable to the point where you are doing another similar trip to Cuba!

That's also good to know that there's going to be more than one tour on the same gatwick-Havana flight and also staying in the same hotel. The Cuban Highlights ride also departs the same day so it seems like there should be a good load of us going over together which should be fun.

I was told the break down of the people going on my trip (because if it had been all couples I think I would have given it a miss!) and I was told there is a combinaiton of couples, a group of 3 friends and some other solo travellers so hopefully it should be a nice group. People who choose to spend Christmas cycling around Cuba have got to have something in common somewhere I thought!

For our cycle Cuba trip we only spend the first night in Havana, I think we then have a cycle tour of Havana the next day and then in the afternoon we leave for the next stop on the tour. We do a tour of the whole island on bikes and in buses.

Well, maybe we'll bump into each other at the airport, on the plane or at the hotel. In fact, have my mobile number 07814488027 in case thats handy.

In fact, I booked Cuba trip not long after I had booked China, as the Cuba trip for the date I wanted to go had only 2 spaces left when I last looked and when I looked again, there was one space left, so I just decided to go for it. Having been to China, I was feeling less apprehensive about Cuba. Oh, on my Cuba tour I was told there's a combination of couples and solo travellers but in total there are more women than men (it doesn't bother me though). Like you, I also would prefer not go with all couples tours (that's one of the reasons I chose Exodus rather than say Thomson). Been there, done that but got a t-shirt and burnt it!

Our group might catch up with your Cycling group at some stops.

People on my China tour were from different places, different countries - a couple from Vancouver, one couple from Scotland, two couples from near my hometown, solo travellers from New York, Glasgow, Oxford, Swindon. I booked a coach to come back from Gatwick but a couple who lives not far from me kindly gave me a lift back! I'll pay them back with dinner!

Some of them have been with Exodus many times, some have been to Cuba and were telling me about lovely time they had. They know I love dancing (I dance different styles) and they said everywhere they stopped in Cuba, someone or a group will come out playing Salsa music. Sounds good to me, music to my ears! :-))

Good to hear from you again Pensri and read what you have to say -all useful!

I'm staying at the Russ Hill Hotel on 18th Dec, although I don't actually live too far away in west London, my experiences of horrendous traffic jams on the M25 to date and the fact that I'd rather leave my car parked somewhere more secure than on the street over Christmas resulted in my decision to book into a hotel the night before.

Look forward to meeting you and everyone else on 19th Dec. not long now!

I've just printed off the additional information about Cuba (the link sent via email from Exodus) and going to read it in a mo. Maybe I should have read that already by now. Thinking of the packing, need to start very soon. Panick, panick!!

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